Order of operations with integers

When simplifying an expression that has more than one operation symbol, there is a special order you must follow.

Parentheses

Exponents

Multiplication and Division (from left to right)

Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)

Be careful in steps 3 and 4! Multiplication does not always come before division, nor does addition always come before subtraction! For example, in $$8-3\cdot~(-4)\div~2+4$$ you would multiply before dividing because it is to the left of the division. Similarly, you would subtract before adding because it is to the left of the addition.